Saint François d'Assise

Messiaen's breathtakingly intense opera on the life of St Francis of Assisi stars Rod Gilfry as the charismatic visionary, beguiled by the glory of creation, yet fearful of both its imperfections and its transience. Pierre Audi's thoroughly engaging production for The Netherlands Opera brings out the naive imagery, the grandeur, and above all the vast tenderness of the resplendent score, revealed as a grandiose ritual with the meaning and purpose of life as its central theme. But the real drama of the work takes place in the orchestra. Elevated to stupendous heights by the sublimely inspired Ingo Metzmacher, The Hague Philharmonic and the Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera combine forces with a brilliant cast to produce the finest possible musical pilgrimage.

Cast

Camilla Tilling

L'Ange

Rodney Gilfry

Saint François

Hubert Delamboye

Le Lépreux

Henk Neven

Frère Léon

Tom Randle

Frère Massée

Donald Kaasch

Frère Élie

Armand Arapian

Frère Bernard

Jan Willem Baljet

Frère Sylvestre

André Morsch

Frère Rufin